Your questions about the viaduct to tunnel project answered

January 9, 2019 4:26 PM

Why is the viaduct closing so long before the tunnel opens?

The Alaskan Way Viaduct accounts for about 2.2 miles of SR-99 as it runs along the waterfront of downtown Seattle. In order for traffic to access the new tunnel, workers will have to tear up sections of the existing highway and then rebuild sections linking it to the new tunnel at the north and south ends. "This is more than just moving some traffic cones around," said David Sowers, deputy program administrator for WSDOT's Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement program, at a news conference Wednesday morning. Crews will have to remove some embankments, build others, pave new sections of roadway and more. They will also have to build out roads that don't exist yet, including the intersection at South Dearborn Street where traffic will come off the highway from the northbound Sodo exit. The work is expected to take about three weeks, and Sowers said that while there is some padding in the schedule to allow for delays, he's confident the tunnel should be ready to open after the first weekend in February. less

Why is the viaduct closing so long before the tunnel opens?

The Alaskan Way Viaduct accounts for about 2.2 miles of SR-99 as it runs along the waterfront of downtown Seattle. In order for traffic to access the ... more

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

Why is the viaduct closing so long before the tunnel opens?...photo-16336191.188893 - |ucfirst

What changes are happening around downtown streets during the closure?

A number of changes are set to happen or have already happened. For starters, the ramps at the south end of the viaduct were shut down last Friday, and parking restrictions on some streets have already gone into effect. Seneca Street between First and Third avenues will be converted to a one-way street headed westbound since traffic will no longer be coming off the viaduct eastbound. SDOT says this will increase downtown mobility. Additionally, several streets downtown and in West Seattle (near the water taxi dock) will have new parking restrictions to allow for emergency vehicles to get through during the expected traffic congestion. For a full list of the parking restrictions, go to SDOT's blog post here. What's more, drivers should expect Seattle police traffic officers to be in place at key intersections and on key streets enforcing bus-only lanes, parking restrictions and keeping drivers from blocking intersections. Seattle Police Department Assistant Chief Steve Hirjak said officers' main goal will be to keep traffic moving, but he's "not taking tickets off the table." If vehicles are illegally parked, the city will be "towing with alacrity," said Heather Marx, director of downtown mobility for SDOT. What's more, public agencies have all strongly advised that commuters use any option other than driving alone to get to downtown Seattle during the closure.

What changes are happening around downtown streets during the...photo-16336193.188893 - |ucfirst

How is my bus impacted during the closure?

Commuters who ride King County Metro or any other bus service to get to downtown Seattle will likely see some changes to their routes both during the closure and beyond. Buses coming from the south or heading south, including the 21x, 37, 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 123, 125 and C RapidRide line will all be rerouted to Fourth Avenue South until up to two weeks after the tunnel opens, when the new northbound off-ramps from SR-99 open. Buses on the northend will exit SR-99 at Denny Way and use either Wall or Battery street to get in and out of downtown. Additionally, ride share companies are offering discounted rides to and from transit centers during the closure. You can learn more from Metro here and find more information about ride shares and other options here.

How is my bus impacted during the closure?
Commuters who...photo-15328183.188893 - |ucfirst

What streets will be the most backed up once the viaduct closes? When should I drive?

Officials have been clear on one thing throughout planning for the viaduct closure: They expect traffic to be impacted far beyond the downtown core. Roughly 90,000 vehicles per day use the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and once it closes, those cars will have to go somewhere. Surface streets will be clogged, Interstate 5 will be clogged, SR-99 north and south of the city will likely be clogged, but the impacts will extend much farther. "This closure is going to be like nothing we've ever experienced before," Marx said at Wednesday's news conference. "We're all going to have to channel Fred Rogers, we're going to have to take our time, going to have to be kind and patient and think about other people and how they're experiencing this." Marx and Sowers both noted that during the 9-day closure of the viaduct in 2016, traffic saw slowdowns on the state Route 520 bridge crossing Lake Washington and beyond. Drivers may also look to avoid Seattle altogether, leading to even farther reaching impacts, such as heavier traffic on I-405, Sowers added. "There is no street that is going to be unimpacted by this closure," Marx said. Metro has suggested that those who do drive try to avoid the heaviest travel times — 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. — by leaving later or earlier, but that is still not a guarantee that things will be free and clear.

When the new SR-99 tunnel opens in February, drivers will face significantly different routes getting to downtown. The tunnel has no exits or on-ramps between its north and south ends, so drivers will have to get off at one end or the other and then use surface streets to access downtown destinations. Accessing the stadiums will still be relatively easy, as drivers will have access at South Dearborn Street or Royal Brougham Way, depending on where they are coming from and where they are going. At the north end, on- and off-ramps will provide access around Mercer and Harrison streets. For a more in-depth explanation of the new access, read more here.

How will I get downtown once the new tunnel opens?
When the...photo-16717696.188893 - |ucfirst

The new tunnel has fewer lanes than the viaduct. Will it be clogged with traffic all the time? Is it going to be dark in there?

The new SR-99 tunnel was designed to have the same overall traffic capacity as the Alaskan Way Viaduct, according to WSDOT. Drivers may be quick to point out that the viaduct has as many as four lanes in places while the tunnel only has two lanes in each direction, but because those are exit or entrance lanes, they don't count toward throughput capacity for the highway. At both the north and south ends, SR-99 only has two lanes in each direction, and since the tunnel has no exits over its length, there is no need for the extra lanes. That said, it's still likely to see congestion at rush hour. And no, it won't be pitch black inside. It is equipped with lighting as well as a host of safety devices in the event of crashes inside.

The new tunnel has fewer lanes than the viaduct. Will it be...photo-15298856.188893 - |ucfirst

When will they start tearing down the viaduct?

Crews will actually demolish part of the southern end of the elevated highway starting this weekend, but the majority of the demolition work will start after the tunnel and connecting ramps open in February. WSDOT hasn't released a specific schedule, but said it estimates the work will take a obut six months to complete.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct accounts for about 2.2 miles of SR-99 as it runs along the waterfront of downtown Seattle. In order for traffic to access the new tunnel, workers will have to tear up sections of the existing highway and then rebuild sections linking it to the new tunnel at the north and south ends. "This is more than just moving some traffic cones around," said David Sowers, deputy program administrator for WSDOT's Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement program, at a news conference Wednesday morning. Crews will have to remove some embankments, build others, pave new sections of roadway and more. They will also have to build out roads that don't exist yet, including the intersection at South Dearborn Street where traffic will come off the highway from the northbound Sodo exit. The work is expected to take about three weeks, and Sowers said that while there is some padding in the schedule to allow for delays, he's confident the tunnel should be ready to open after the first weekend in February. less

Why is the viaduct closing so long before the tunnel opens?

The Alaskan Way Viaduct accounts for about 2.2 miles of SR-99 as it runs along the waterfront of downtown Seattle. In order for traffic to access the ... more